CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS SEASON’S METALLICS?

Neither can we. And apparently neither could Jason Wu, Lanvin, Altuzarra, and Tom Ford. All incorporated metallic shimmer and shine into their Spring 2014 Ready-to-Wear Collections.

Altuzarra Spring 2014, Ready-to-Wear Courtesy of Vogue U.K.

HOW TO WEAR IT

A great way to bring metallics out of the dark of night and into the daylight, is to mix an ultra-feminine, typically evening, metallic with a contrasting menswear piece. This look straight off of the runway from Altuzarra, is a great example: a menswear “long underwear” knit top paired with a metallic silk, high-slit, narrow skirt.

TRENDING – THE KILT PIN

The kilt pin is popular this fall with Versus by Versace, Moschino Cheap and Chic, and Mark Le Bhian. All are offering skirts and dresses incorporating a version of the kilt pin.

VERSACE & MOSCHINO HIGHLIGHT THE KILT PIN

Co-opted from menswear as a fashion accessory, the kilt pin adds a golden touch to your favorite black skirt or a bit of edge to a cocktail dress. Versace has a long history of incorporating safety pins and kilt pins into their designs. Who can forget the image of Elizabeth Hurley in the barely there dress by Versace that she wore to the 1994 premier of Four Weddings and a Funeral? The dress looked as if it might fall off if it weren’t for the combination of safety and kilt pins holding it together.

HOW TO WEAR A KILT PIN

Here’s some of our favorite pieces for Fall/Winter and a “How To” guide to wearing a kilt pin with pieces similar to those that you might have in your closet right now.

The Kilt pin worn on a Scotsman’s kilt, contrary to popular belief, is mainly decorative. It is worn on the front of the kilt, pinned only to the top layer (sometimes mistakenly pinned through to the second layer). Its main purpose is to give the front some weight, helping the front panel to hang properly.

You can use it to add interest to a jacket or dress where there is some ruched material. Pin it horizontally, near the shoulder on a jacket like this belted wool jacket by Oscar de la Renta or on a dress like the one below from Alexander Wang.

Looking for a kilt pin to accessorize your skirts. We’ve just added this antique, 18 ct gold snake kilt pin to our collections and its available now. Mine! Mine! Mine!

One of our favorite pieces of jewelry is the snake bracelet. And yes we are jewelry junkies with A LOT of favorites. Snake jewelry (bracelets, bangles, rings, necklaces, etc.) the antique, the vintage and the modern, have become very popular over the last year or two and the growing trend shows no evidence of slowing down.

Every time we see a particularly pretty piece of vintage or antique snake jewelry, we snatch it up! We started picking them up a couple of years ago. And as it turns out, we’re not alone. The sly and sometimes mysterious reptile has been turning up in a number of magazines.

While there is a snake ring or bracelet in almost every fashion magazine (mostly modern reproductions), we did notice a particularly stunning antique serpent armlet in the June/July issue of Town & Country Magazine: a gold, six-coil snake with a large sapphire eye from Stephen Russell’s collection ($75,000).

The team at T&C paired it with a short, pale grey, strapless dress and hot-pink stilettos. The bracelet with its multiple coils, looks like something Cleopatra might have worn, the snake winding its way up her arm, shining against her beautiful skin. Below is another armlet on Elizabeth Taylor from her 1963 movie of the same name.

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20th Century Fox

We love snake jewelry from the 19th c. and the early 20th c., mostly because of the amazing details often found on fine pieces from the Georgian and Victorian periods. For the most part you won’t find the same kind of detail (hand carving, enameling, intricate design, etc.) on modern reproductions. It doesn’t hurt that the snake or serpent has been a symbol of strength, love and eternity throughout time. Here’s a favorite from the Victorian Period: A gorgeous blue enamel snake bangle with pearls and garnet eyes (circa 1865, sold by Bonhams in 2011 for 3,840 GBP or approximately 6,281 USD).

Courtesy of Bonhams

While the great ones are few and far between, we have been lucky enough to find a few. Find a motif you love (snake, arrow, buckle, heart etc.) and make it part of your everyday style. Browse through the snake bracelets currently in our collection.

Interested in snake rings? Take a look at a few of the beauties we currently have in our Rings Serpent Collection.

If you want more information on antique jewelry or just want to browse through exhibitions of drool-worthy jewelry, visit the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Jewellery Collection next time you are in London or online: V&A Jewellery.

About

Sugar et Cie's jewelry blog is for those who love unique and beautiful jewelry. We share information on jewelry fashion, unusual pieces of antique, vintage and modern jewelry, in addition to our latest finds.